Upgrading Mini Cooper S (R53)
Discussion
My wife has a Mini Cooper S, which she loves to bits. It's a 54 plate and now has 60k on the clock.
I would like to give it a mechanical makeover for her, about £3k.
I am thinking suspension, brakes, new tyres (don't know what's on them right now, but they're not very good) and this:
http://www.bbrgti.com/product_details.php?id=8097&...
And perhaps this:
http://www.bbrgti.com/browse-performance-tuning-ca...
Does anyone know if these upgrades are worth it, or are there better upgrades out there that I don't know about? (I know little about these cars..)
Cheers
I would like to give it a mechanical makeover for her, about £3k.
I am thinking suspension, brakes, new tyres (don't know what's on them right now, but they're not very good) and this:
http://www.bbrgti.com/product_details.php?id=8097&...
And perhaps this:
http://www.bbrgti.com/browse-performance-tuning-ca...
Does anyone know if these upgrades are worth it, or are there better upgrades out there that I don't know about? (I know little about these cars..)
Cheers
Hi Chris.
Forget the BBR packages... 220bhp is achieved with a reduced supercharger pulley which is about £300 fitted.
Speak to a company called 1320mini. They are fair with prices and will offer the the best advice.
With £3k I would...
Coilovers - you don't need to go too low but they're so much better than lowered spings in std shocks (which that BBR kit uses)
Brakes - R56 S calipers and discs are the same as the R53 JCW upgrade. Well worth it.
Tyres - Ditch the run flats.
Performance - Orranje do a stealth induction kit, get one.
Airtec intercooler.
17% reduced pulley.
JCW exhaust.
You'll have a decent package then. This is basically my spec at the moment, I don't know where you live but your more than welcome to have a bash with it! It's a fun little car!
Forget the BBR packages... 220bhp is achieved with a reduced supercharger pulley which is about £300 fitted.
Speak to a company called 1320mini. They are fair with prices and will offer the the best advice.
With £3k I would...
Coilovers - you don't need to go too low but they're so much better than lowered spings in std shocks (which that BBR kit uses)
Brakes - R56 S calipers and discs are the same as the R53 JCW upgrade. Well worth it.
Tyres - Ditch the run flats.
Performance - Orranje do a stealth induction kit, get one.
Airtec intercooler.
17% reduced pulley.
JCW exhaust.
You'll have a decent package then. This is basically my spec at the moment, I don't know where you live but your more than welcome to have a bash with it! It's a fun little car!
hyperblue said:
SteveS speaks a lot of sense. That BBR package is insanely priced.
Cheers, knowing little about the Mini scene, I wasn't sure - it did seem a lot for so few parts and a little tweaking, I guess.1320 MINI is quite a way from me, we are in the Forest of Dean, bordering with Wales. Can anyone suggest anywhere nearer?
If not, I don't mind travelling if the work done is top notch and reasonably priced.
ETA - I know I can search the net, but I have found that word of mouth is more valuable.
Is Lohen any closer for you?
People drive from Scotland to go to 1320. They'll give your car a good once over, advise of any issues, fit the parts you want and their rates are very reasonable
I wouldn't bother with the drive for routine servicing (though I do that myself now), but for specialist MINI work they're hard to beat.
People drive from Scotland to go to 1320. They'll give your car a good once over, advise of any issues, fit the parts you want and their rates are very reasonable
I wouldn't bother with the drive for routine servicing (though I do that myself now), but for specialist MINI work they're hard to beat.
hyperblue said:
Is Lohen any closer for you?
People drive from Scotland to go to 1320. They'll give your car a good once over, advise of any issues, fit the parts you want and their rates are very reasonable
I wouldn't bother with the drive for routine servicing (though I do that myself now), but for specialist MINI work they're hard to beat.
Cheers - that's good enough for me. I shall use them to set the Mini up.. People drive from Scotland to go to 1320. They'll give your car a good once over, advise of any issues, fit the parts you want and their rates are very reasonable
I wouldn't bother with the drive for routine servicing (though I do that myself now), but for specialist MINI work they're hard to beat.
Apart from throwing away 3k as you would never see it again, I have to tell you that fitting the reduced supercharger pulley is at worst a morning's work for your very average DIY mechanic.
I say very average as I've done it. Given a jack, axle stands & a basic tool box, I would baulk at £300 for someone else to do it. 1320 must love those, easy money all day long.
I say very average as I've done it. Given a jack, axle stands & a basic tool box, I would baulk at £300 for someone else to do it. 1320 must love those, easy money all day long.
I just had a Kavs 17% pulley, belt, Stainless manifold with sports cat and uprated plugs fitted. Parts were about £450.
These have done a good job. Pulley was from 1320. Rest from ebay.
I also bought a Chinese intercooler.... which didn't fit so sent it back, but it runs fine without it.
These have done a good job. Pulley was from 1320. Rest from ebay.
I also bought a Chinese intercooler.... which didn't fit so sent it back, but it runs fine without it.
The things to buy are:
- Alta pulleys with the 17% get some NGK BCR8ES plugs, the 19% is too much, the supercharger spins too fast and generates heat
- GRS intercooler if you want to go cheaper and almost as good you can get the intercooler from the R53 MINI GP
- Janspeed manifold - the only manifold actually worth buying, i have the cat-back as well but it's very loud so most people don't like it.
- 440cc or 550cc injectors (i prefer the 440s)
- Alta cold air intake make sure you get the lid as well otherwise it FUBARs your bonnet lining
- JCW spark plug leads (they're much better than the standard ones but mainly because they're blue )
- Milltek cat-back - they're solid and give good results.
- Someone to map it for you, it comes down to personal preference who you use, just make sure it's mapped on a dyno and not just a map they put on everything.
- Get the diverter valve sorted so it actually closes, you will be losing anything from 1-4 psi with it how it left the factory.
Worth noting that if you go with a 17% pulley or smaller, then you need the new intercooler, however if you opt for the 15% pulley, then there is no need to change the intercooler.
If you plan on doing it your self, it is straightforward but you will need a pulley puller to remove the stock pulley & a pulley tensioner release tool which looks like an elongated hockey stick. Both are readily available on Ebay.
In either case, you will need the new spark plugs as they run cooler than standard.
In essence, you need to strip a bit of gear out of the way of the pulley on the supoercharger side of the engine, remove the lower engine mount bolt & jack the engine up carefully in order to gain access to the superchrager pulley. It's not hard, but you do need to take care. Usually th pulley kit will have instructions but feel free to ask if you want any pointers. Should be a couple of hours work tops.
Also, threadlock for the pulley wheel is a good idea.
If you plan on doing it your self, it is straightforward but you will need a pulley puller to remove the stock pulley & a pulley tensioner release tool which looks like an elongated hockey stick. Both are readily available on Ebay.
In either case, you will need the new spark plugs as they run cooler than standard.
In essence, you need to strip a bit of gear out of the way of the pulley on the supoercharger side of the engine, remove the lower engine mount bolt & jack the engine up carefully in order to gain access to the superchrager pulley. It's not hard, but you do need to take care. Usually th pulley kit will have instructions but feel free to ask if you want any pointers. Should be a couple of hours work tops.
Also, threadlock for the pulley wheel is a good idea.
Edited by Justin Cyder on Friday 8th November 07:57
Justin Cyder said:
Worth noting that if you go with a 17% pulley or smaller, then you need the new intercooler, however if you opt for the 15% pulley, then there is no need to change the intercooler.
Really?Edited by Justin Cyder on Friday 8th November 07:57
Well ours is fine.
We don't track day it though, then I expect you may notice it.
nottyash said:
Justin Cyder said:
Worth noting that if you go with a 17% pulley or smaller, then you need the new intercooler, however if you opt for the 15% pulley, then there is no need to change the intercooler.
Really?Edited by Justin Cyder on Friday 8th November 07:57
Well ours is fine.
We don't track day it though, then I expect you may notice it.
Got the R53 at the weekend and the missus id delighted with it. I have never driven an S before so don't have anything to compare it with. To me it feels a little sluggish but once going it whines and pulls all way to redline. I have read a few posts on forums that say the bypass valve can fail on the early 52 and 03 cars and that it can zap 50bhp! Is there any way to tell if ours has failed?
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